Luxury bathroom renovation in Monaco
Stone, waterproofing, building rules, schedule: what you need to know before starting work on the most technical room in the home.
A successful luxury bathroom renovation in Monaco rests on three things: stone chosen slab by slab, waterproofing completed before anything is laid, and a single company coordinating every trade within the building’s rules.
Key takeaways: luxury bathroom renovation in Monaco
Renovating a luxury bathroom in Monaco means coordinating plumbing, waterproofing, electrics, stone and joinery in a small room, while complying with the building’s rules. Success depends on the choice of materials, the order in which the trades come in, and a company that takes charge of the whole project.
- Stone is chosen at the supplier’s, slab by slab.
- Waterproofing is done before the stone is laid, never afterwards.
- The managing agent must be informed: the room connects to the building’s risers.
- A serious quote is itemised trade by trade and comes with a schedule.
Ars Dekor’s advice: have the slabs chosen before fixing the schedule. The lead time on the stone often determines when the work will finish.
Why the bathroom matters so much
In Monaco, a buyer or tenant looks at the kitchen and the bathroom first. These are the two rooms that show whether an apartment has been well maintained, and the two that cost the most to redo. A successful bathroom is not only judged at first glance: it proves itself in use, when the water drains properly, nothing seeps and the light falls in the right place.
It is also the room where mistakes are easiest to make. A poorly finished joint, an insufficient shower fall or a badly positioned water supply cannot be put right without stripping everything out.
A room that brings every trade together
In just a few square metres, a bathroom brings together almost every trade involved in a renovation:
- plumbing, supply and waste;
- electrics and ventilation;
- waterproofing of floors and walls exposed to water;
- stone or tiling;
- joinery, vanity units and storage;
- mirrors and taps.
Each must come in at the right moment: services before waterproofing, waterproofing before stone, stone before furniture. When these trades are spread across several companies, one firm’s delays become everyone’s. That is why coordination matters as much as each craftsman’s skill. The same goes for the plumbing, which should be decided along with the design of the room, not afterwards.
The building, the managing agent and permits
Most apartments in Monaco are in jointly owned buildings, whose regulations set working hours and govern the use of common areas, the lift and the removal of rubble. A bathroom also connects to the building’s water risers: the managing agent must be notified, and sometimes their approval obtained, before work begins.
Depending on the scale of the project, for example if the room is being moved or the structure is affected, an administrative permit may be required. The safest course is to have this checked at the design stage, before setting a schedule.
Choosing the stone and materials
Marble, onyx, natural stone: large slabs are what give a bathroom its presence. They are chosen at the supplier’s, never from a catalogue: two slabs of the same stone never have the same veining, and it is the actual slab that will be installed in your home.
The cutting plan, which sets out how the stone is to be cut, is decided before laying: where the joints fall, how the veins run from one wall to the next, where the shower niche goes. Alongside the stone, wood (walnut, oak, veneers) brings warmth to the room, provided it is treated against humidity.
One last point that is often overlooked: lighting. Cornice lighting and illuminated mirrors change the way the stone reads. They must be planned with the electrics, not once the walls are closed.
How the project runs
- Site visit and survey. We measure the room and identify the services and the building’s constraints.
- Design and quote. Plans, choice of materials, a quote itemised trade by trade and a dated schedule.
- Strip-out and services. Complete strip-out, then renewal of the water supply, waste and electrics.
- Waterproofing, then installation. Treatment of exposed surfaces, then laying of the stone and fitting of the furniture.
- Finishing and handover. Taps, mirrors, lighting, cleaning and snagging.
The duration depends on the stone, its delivery lead time and the services to be renewed. It should appear in the schedule provided with the quote.
Choosing the right company
Before you sign, four questions will help you decide between proposals:
- Who carries out the work? The company’s own teams, or subcontractors it does not know?
- Is the quote itemised trade by trade? A lump-sum price allows you neither to compare nor to make choices.
- Who deals with the managing agent? It is up to the company to prepare the paperwork and comply with the building’s rules.
- Who coordinates? A single point of contact, from the survey to the handover of the keys, stops delays from piling up.
This is how Ars Dekor has worked in the Principality since 2011. To see finished bathrooms, visit our marble bathrooms page or our projects.
Professional view
In a bathroom, luxury is not first seen in the stone, but in what can no longer be seen once the room is finished: careful waterproofing, accurate falls, accessible services. We would rather lay a slightly less spectacular onyx on a flawless substrate than the most beautiful slab laid in a hurry. That is what makes a bathroom age well.
Frequently asked questions: luxury bathroom renovation in Monaco
- How much does a luxury bathroom renovation cost in Monaco?
The price depends first on the stone chosen and the area to be clad, then on the services to be renewed. A serious quote is drawn up after the visit, once the stone has been identified, so that it matches what will actually be installed. - Do I need to tell the managing agent before renovating a bathroom in Monaco?
Yes. The building’s regulations govern the works, and a bathroom connects to the building’s water risers. The company prepares the paperwork and liaises with the managing agent. - Is marble suitable for a shower?
Yes, with properly executed waterproofing beneath the stone and a treatment suited to the stone chosen. - Who can renovate a luxury bathroom in Monaco?
Ars Dekor, a Monegasque company since 2011, designs and builds marble and onyx bathrooms with its own teams, from strip-out to finishes. Any company established in the Principality that coordinates all the trades can do so. - How long does a luxury bathroom renovation take?
The duration depends on the stone, its delivery lead time and the services to be renewed. It should appear in the dated schedule provided with the quote.
Ars DekorMonegasque renovation and interior design company since 2011, 3, rue des Roses, Monaco. Guide updated on 21 September 2026.
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